The Lakers get a chance for payback on Feb. 10, when the Lakers visit Boston for the first time since they lost Game 5 of the NBA Finals to go down, 3-2, in the championship series they rallied to win.

With a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, Bryant became youngest ever to reach 27,000 points for his career (surpassing Wilt Chamberlain), but Bryant's scoring numbers were countered by his lack of an assist in 38 minutes.

For the newcomers on the Lakers, this will be their first taste of the storied rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics, a dislike that dates back to the 1960s, a rivalry older than those throw-back jerseys the Lakers are wearing.

But not everyone is caught up in the hoopla.

Steve Blake was quoted as saying that this game generates a lot of hype, but "I don't really see it as anything different. I've played against Boston many times on different teams, so to me, it's just playing Boston again. ... For me, it's just another game."

Having played for 11 other teams (not Boston, though), Joe Smith has been a part of many rivalries but said the Lakers-Celtics rivalry tops them all.

"This is a bigger," Smith said before tip-off Sunday. "These teams have met in the Finals for years and many times. It's gone back and forth and everybody is projecting it again this season. This game means a lot and the rivalry is bigger than any other I've been a part of."

So exactly where are the Lakers today? We mean, besides in Los Angeles, preparing for another epic, ABC-televised Sunday showdown.

"We're not in as bad a spot as it seems," veteran Derek Fisher said. "But because of how good we know we can be and how good everyone else knows we can be, it just doesn't feel right."

The Lakers have been inconsistent this season, losing six times already inside Staples Center to teams that entered the weekend with losing records. The defense and rebounding, in particular, have been strangely unreliable.

"(It's) just about the animation and activity level that it takes to play at that level as opposed to the activity and level we had (Friday) night," Coach Phil Jackson said. "That's what you have to do. That's what you're paid for in this game, coming out every game and finding that level."

While the media wanted to talk Game 7, the Lakers focused more on Game 6 Saturday.

Coach Phil Jackson said the team watched video of its NBA Finals Game 6 victory in June, with an emphasis on defense. In that game, the Lakers limited Boston to 67 points and 33.3 percent shooting. They won by 22.

"We know we have to get back on it," Jackson said of the Lakers' need to bolster their energy, "get on that horse and get going."

Game 6 also saw Boston center Kendrick Perkins go down with a knee injury after playing only 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The Lakers finished with a huge edge -- 52-39 -- in rebounds.

"It's not about worrying," Pau Gasol said when asked about the Lakers' uneven play of late. "It's understanding what's going on. We understand."

The epic plot line of Kobe Bryant vs. Shaquille O'Neal has taken a backseat to the Lakers-Celtics rivalry. (For example, Boston forward Kevin Garnett is expected to wear a special pair of green, suede-covered shoes with “152-120” embroidered on the tongue ... the Celtics' overall winning record against the Lakers.)

But it'll be the first time back to face the Lakers for the new Big Shamrock. Meanwhile, Bryant continues to dominate the league as the NBA's top All-Star vote-getter.

In Bryant and O'Neal's 10 career head-to-head meetings in which both have played, Bryant is averaging 34.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists while O'Neal is averaging 18.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

With Kendrick Perkins finally returning to Boston's lineup Tuesday, naturally people began to wonder if he and Shaquille O'Neal might soon butt heads on playing time.

No way, says Perkins at least.

"I mean, it shouldn't be (any trouble)," he said. "Shaq has been great.

"Shaq's goal is win a championship. He don't care what he needs to do to get that at this point. He wants to win that fifth ring and get on up out of here. We're trying for a championship. It's bigger than the both of us."

EL SEGUNDO -- The Lakers are finishing up three days without a game before playing host to Utah on Tuesday night. Then the Lakers get two more days off before an easy assignment Friday night at home against 9-32 Sacramento.

Then one more day off to prepare specifically for a Sunday afternoon showdown with Boston at Staples Center. It's a nice time for the Lakers to exhale and work on their defense -- and gear up to take Boston down.

"Since the Christmas game (against Miami)," Lamar Odom said, "I feel like we've been playing every other day."

The Lakers don't get consecutive days off without a game again after this stretch until Feb. 8-9 before their Feb. 10 showdown in Boston.

The 33-10 Celtics have the second-best record in the NBA after San Antonio's 37-7. The Lakers have moved up to third at 32-13, a half-game ahead of Miami.

Phil Jackson isn't a fan of playing basketball on Christmas, but there have been a few games in his career that standout, namely the Lakers' game against Boston on Dec. 25, 2008.

The Lakers had been embarrassed by their hated rivals in the NBA Finals six months earlier and wanted a rematch. The sooner, the better.

The game was the first between the teams since the Celtics romped to a 131-92 victory in Game 6 to win their first championship in 22 years, adding to their storied rivalry. The teams had met 11 times in the Finals, with the Celtics going 9-2.

Making matters worse for the Lakers was the fact the Celtics came into Staples Center that day confident, having won 19 games in a row and with a 27-2 record.

The Lakers didn't let that sway them and came away with a 92-83 victory. They are hoping not to be affected by the hype and excitement surrounding the arrival of Miami's Big Three to Staples Center on Saturday. The Heat (22-9) have won nine of their past 10 games after a slow start, while the Lakers have stumbled to a 21-8 record.